
Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book.
I've been enjoying a lot of YA and NA romances recently, so I was excited for this one. I would give this a 3.5 stars rounded up.
There were plenty of cute moments that I absolutely fell for, but the ending really let me down. From the beginning, I was slightly confused as to where this would go as I wasn't feeling too solid on Irene's characterization. However, once we got to the actual plot of the novel, I found myself intrigued and invested in Irene and Aiden's relationship. Honestly, the most compelling character for me was Irene's roommate, but I still enjoyed the cute moments that Irene and Aiden shared.
It was their individual character developments, though, that needed the most work. The third-act breakup felt overdone and unnecessary, and the way it was resolved was even worse, in my opinion. Irene wasn't a character that I see myself being friends with, so it made it hard to connect with her. Without that connection, I didn't really care for the ending.
Ultimately, it was a sweet novel, if a tad immature. I enjoyed it.
And I'm out.

This cute college romance is the story of two book reviewers who end up paired together for a lit class their first semester. It's a love letter to romance and romance readers filled with tropes and book discussion and all the things that we as romance lovers love to love. Susan weaves culture and romance and community together in a way that's just so much fun. I loved her previous work on audio and while I read this with my eyes, I am certain that the audio will be fantastic.

this book is for the READERS!!! and not just any readers, but the fanfic loving, Bookstagram babes who would much rather be reading than attending a social event (unless it’s bookish).
This book is absolutely everything to me and I was hooked from the glossary! Susan definitely understands her audience and rather than being embarrassed and cringing from her love for reading, she embraces it, her characters, and most importantly the audience. I’ve never felt more love for readers from a book than in this one.
It’s giving whisper of the heart where the MMC reads the same books as the FMC to get her attention AHHHHHHH
I loved the banter between Irene and Aiden. The dialogue was very realistic and flowed so well I didn’t even realize how fast I was reading. They had such amazing chemistry and I loved how he was very clearly into Irene while she was blind to it (at least for a little while). While originally rivals, I loved that they both were able to work through Irene’s one sided beef and talk about life as book reviewers and how it affected them.
Irene’s development was very well done. I was annoyed by how focused she was on her dating plan to fall in love because it seemed so shallow and not genuine, which I felt was the opposite of her as a person. She clearly cares for everyone close to her on a deep level and her people pleasing side bled into her online life. But it was the plan that was annoying, not Irene herself. It was also so relatable for her to be overwhelmed with college life and have her passion for reading fall to the side, but also be so focused on her love for reading that her scholarly work was suffering. I think their author did a great job in noting both parts of a reviewers life affects each other. What’s great is that Irene had a solid support system and was able to work her way through finding out what she wants.
This read is perfect for fans of Tashie Bhuiyan (Counting Down with You) and Ann Liang (If You Could See the Sun).

HUGE thank you to Harper Collin’s publishing & Susan Lee for the ARC of this book! I’ve been in a horrible book slump for MONTHS struggling to find a book to suck me back into the reading world and this did just that! Aiden and Irene have such a cute enemies to lovers romance. I thought the way the tropes fit into the story and sometimes broke the 4th wall were super clever and hilarious. I am SO thankful for this and honored I was approved for this. I only wish it was written in dual perspectives so we could know Aiden’s feelings going in, but that’s not a huge deal!

okay romance tropes!!!
this book is very cutesy and if you're looking for a new ya romance that is focused on bookish things... its here. lately i have been struggling with ya books where the characters are going to college because i feel slightly too old. that time period is one i don't want to think about. this book hit all the tropes and was centered by rivals to lovers which usually tops my list of favorite tropes. this was cute and i would recommend this for ya readers but its not for me in my life right now..
*thank you net galley*

I am Irene. She is me. Susan Lee... you're such a mastermind!! Being a reader and reviewer, I definitely felt seen here. Irene is incredibly relatable despite her being 18 and me being 28. This type of book deeply resonates in my soul. Absolutely binged this book in one day. It felt a bit short for me because I didn't want the book to end at all.
The glossary at the beginning actually had me dying cackling, and I understand why it's included because it is very pertinent to the book itself. This is a true trope book done right. I was eating up every epigraph chapter, especially once Aiden was introduced.
I really enjoyed every aspect of this book. The epigraph reviews, the chapter tropes, the trope challenge itself, relatability as an Asian American attending college (I have already graduated but currently back in school for my masters).
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

This had all the ingredients for a great story, but it didn’t quite stick the landing. The concept overall felt hurried and the chapters went by so quickly that there wasn’t enough time to fully flesh out the characters or give key moments the weight they deserved.
Maybe I’m just not the right demographic for this book but Irene was not someone I could root for or relate to… She was kinda insufferable and the romance moved way too fast, skipping over the slow burn that makes the enemies-to-lovers trope so satisfying.
While the concept was strong, the story leaned too heavily on all the wrong areas, making it feel more like a commentary on tropes than a fully realized romance. The conclusion also felt abrupt, leaving me wishing for a more satisfying resolution and deeper character growth. In the end, this book had all the right ingredients but didn’t quite come together. A great idea that just needed more space to flourish.

As a bookstagrammer, I felt like this book was written to heal my soul. I have genuinely been looking for a book like this for so long that I was about to write one but then Susan Lee DELIVERED. the concept is so cute. Two rival romance reviewers ending up attending the same college, continuing their rivalry through fake dating and competitions? Literally best idea ever. I felt so inspired. I literally read this book in one sitting.
But it also felt too fast. It wasn’t very realistic. There’s a fade to black spice scene that was kinda random. The character development was fine but it all felt rushed. Like as a slow-burn reader the timeline seemed unrealistic. And I wish Aiden’s character was explored more. Inget that most of this book was written from Irene’s POV but Aiden’s family life felt more like an afterthought, a plot filler, than a real background.
I really wanted to love this book and I was so excited— I do still love this book, but it’s not one of my top reads. however, I will be reading Susan Lee’s other works. Aiden was such a cutie and I loved the romance. Literally every chapter title was a trope. And it was so cool how the banter/epigraph showed how Irene and Aiden’s relationship is progressing. When Aiden didn’t reply that one time? My heart broke. But this is a guaranteed HEA and the sweetest college love story. The jealousy? Perfection.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I love a good romance - especially a rivals to loves. The romance rivalry is the perfect book to curl up and read.

Holy moly! I’m obsessed with this book. In this book, we meet Aiden and Irene. Two Korean teen (older teen) booktubers in a silent feud online. This feud is fostered by Aiden’s perceptions and disagreements on Irene’s posts which are then double downed on by Aiden’s subscribers. Fast forward and the teens are out of H.S and meet again!
This book is so enchanting. While it feels like an enemies to lovers, each chapter aligns to a typical romance trope which makes the scenes in the chapters so endearing. This book is a love-letter to romance tropes and books. I loved it! I love Susan Lee’s writing. I was giggling and kicking my feet.

This was so sweet! The concept of romance reviewers using tropes to find love was so charming. I loved the found family aspects of the friend group too.
Really my only complaint was hard not to feel nitpicky about how reviewing romance and brand deals actually work in real life. I can't say I've ever heard of a brand selecting only one influencer to work with and it being such an exclusive thing or book reviewers or their audience competing in this way. But I do tend to offer a bit of grace for YA books with things like that.
Ultimately was very fun and adorable, and I had a great time.

I always love a cheesy, feel-good rivals to lovers romance, and this didn’t disappoint. Was it a bit cliché? 100%, but I think it gave the novel charm.
Irene was a relatable FMC to follow, and she really shows that college freshman experience where people need to remember that they will struggle. And that’s okay! Irene’s character arc was nice because she finally grew and realized it’s okay to ask for help.
Aiden made me swoon constantly, but I wanted more from him. I wish we had gotten more in his character arc because his internal motivations and struggles weren’t fleshed out as much. It’s discussed a little, but I wanted more. Especially being the MMC, he just deserved more.
Irene and Aiden’s banter was fun and entertaining to read, and I loved their dynamic! As cheesy as it was, it was still cute and gave me the feel-good moments I love in romance novels.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and I think anyone who just wants an easy, feel-good romance read could enjoy this! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC :)

This had a cute idea but the characters fell flat to me. I found myself cringing at what she was doing and saying a bit more than I wanted to. The writing read a bit young to me however there were adult topics discussed so I had some cognitive dissonance there.

Thank your HarperCollins for the ARC!
As someone who loves romance books, Irene Park’s character felt like a kindred spirit. She’s a book reviewer who’s all about finding love through the tropes she reads, which made her journey to real-life romance both hilarious and relatable. I loved how Irene's quest for love, modeled after her favorite book tropes, became a fun (and messy) adventure when she crossed paths with her online rival, Aiden.
The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Irene and Aiden was pure gold. Their fake dating setup felt like the perfect rom-com plot, and the chemistry between them kept me hooked. What I really appreciated, though, was how the book also delves into Irene’s personal growth as she navigates college life and the pressure of living up to her own expectations. This book is full of witty banter, swoony moments, and plenty of humor. It’s a fun, sweet read that reminds us that sometimes the best love stories are the ones that happen off the page.

If Susan Lee writes it I will read it.
What a truly phenomenal read😭 this book doesn’t come out until 2025 but it was Lowkey my top read of 2024. HOW DOES A BOOK MANGAE TO BE THIS GOOD? Like hello? The was I was giggling and blushing the whole time.
Everyone needs to read this. I’m going to make evreyone I know read this. TRUST ME.

So fun and cute! I love how they’re both romance readers! Using the tropes to find love and then turning into a competition was a good idea. I wanted to give both these characters a hug and tell them everything would be okay with their family problems. Feeling worthy in the face of love is tough. Loved Irene and Aiden. Would have loved to have seen an epilogue into the future, but the one from the past was good.

The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee is a YA romance and what I term a love letter to romance readers and book reviewers/infleuncers. I felt seen! "I read for vibes not structure". Quite relatable. I also love how so many tropes were showcased in one book. I've always wondered why the MMC is usually the grump in the grumpy-sunshine trope, so it was great to see the FMC as the grump in this book. I enjoyed reading this.
Thank you, Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, for the ARC. All opinions expressed are mine.

DNF 80% First I'd like to thank the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own. I started out really liking the concept of this book as well as all the book lingo and references but unfortunately it fell flat for me. Our MC's priorities are so messed up I just ended up being frustrated with her even though I found a lot of her personality very relatable. The romance also felt like it went from 0 to 100 way too fast. Slight spoiler but they finally admit to having feelings for each other and then two chapters later they jump in bed together. All romantic tension gone. Just no. There's also quite a few F-bombs and other language. Not something I'd recommend especially to a YA reader.

Have I read books that were more of a literary masterpiece than this? Yes. But do I often round up a rom com to 5 stars? No. This is one of these books that despite the corniness and cringe moments, it feels REAL. And I think that’s why those corny and cringe moments throughout the book just worked with this one. The FMC was so personally precious and real to me. Her feelings, her inner dialogue were just so raw and hit so close to home. The idea of reading a rom com based on Rom com tropes should, in theory, not be as profound as this ended up being, but wow did the author outdo herself. I found myself giggling, getting misty eyed, and having to take a moment to re-evaluate my own thoughts and entire young adult phase from the past. It was one of these books that I believe healed some tiny part of me from my youth. This may not be my most eloquent review, but wow did this book absolutely gut me and piece me back together at the same time. I loved it so much and would recommend it to anybody. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an advanced copy of this book 🥰

♾️⭐️
Wow, where do I even start? This was the first book I’ve read by Susan Lee, and trust, I will be reading her entire backlog of novels. Before I dive into the relationship between Irene and Aiden, I first want to acknowledge how SEEN I felt. I’ve always loved romance books; I love them all: contemporary, dark, sci-fi, historical, shifter; give it a heavy romance plot-line and I’m down. Maybe it’s growing up in a house where the focus was sports and never having any friends or family who enjoyed reading the way I do, but I always felt like maybe I loved them a bit ~too~ much. It impacts me in so many ways past being a “hobby” that until I started a bookstagram and made friends who I got to gossip and scream and giggle with about books, I rarely talked about them with others because no one else seemed to feel the all-consuming rush of feelings I get when I read. The way I cry and laugh and scream into my pillow and how they follow me around all day in the back of my mind. The way they have lasting, impressionable effects on me. To read Irene and Aiden talk about the ~why~ behind their book accounts and their love of literature was really everything. (Shoutout to the Wattpad and then A03 comment sections- you guys were always the real MVPs)
I think something I particularly enjoyed was the reviews we got from both Irene and Aiden. I never gave much thought to the reasoning for the differing perspectives and opinions two people can have reading the same book. I always just chalked it up to people liking different things, which, like, yeah, sure, but also? Our own personal desires and insecurities trickle down into the most minute moments, such as how you perceive a book and the characters actions, so to see both Irene and Aiden’s fears and hopes speak through their reviews of the romance books they reviewed was EVERYTHING. And god, poor Aiden, man was going THROUGH it with his reviews, and I was giggling with every one. How can love be so obvious in the most inconspicuous sentences? The fake dating one?? The Miles Miller one?? Like, come ON😭
Irene’s struggles with balancing school were incredibly realistic and really got to the crux of why, when everything else in your life feels like it’s falling apart, the embarrassment can make you curl into yourself more rather than accept help. I loved that she saved herself, even though we saw Aiden wanted to help her and would have if given the opportunity.
Aiden was absolutely, hands down, in love with Irene from the very beginning, and Irene was so clueless:,) I genuinely think 90% of this book is highlighted.
The scenes with Irene, Aiden, and Taejin made me SCREAM. Irene and Aiden are going to be traumatized for the rest of their lives every time they hear the words “I’m premed” LMAO
ALSO one of the best meet-cute(meet-dread?) scenes EVER and the best, best, best first kiss scene:,) Also them cuddling in bed did NOT get the page time it deserved. I needed more😭
Random quotes that had me putting my kindle down and screaming into my pillow because really, I mean seriously, when will it be my turn?
“I’ll play the three wise men with you any day.”
“You haven’t figured it out yet?”
“I want to be Miles Miller when I grow up.”
“I wish”
“The fake dating was just a ploy to get her to realize she wanted him back. And my hot take is that every fake-dating story ever told runs on this unspoken premise: Someone has already fallen before the fake dating even starts.”
“Don't ever want you getting hurt," he says. "Not here..." He raises my hand and kisses it. I feel a slight sting and realize my palm is scraped. I hadn't even noticed earlier. "Not in here," he says as he kisses my temple. "Not in here," he says as he bends a little to kiss right over my heart.”
I need to get my hands on a physical copy right this very second because I’m pretty sure over 85% of the book is highlighted on my kindle, and I want to reread and annotate it all pretty IMMEDIATELY😭